Two Honolulu police officers indicted earlier this month on charges they hid evidence and possessed an illegal firearm pleaded not guilty in federal court today.

Officer John Edwin Cambra IV was indicted with his father, John Edwin Cambra III, after the pair allegedly tried to prevent the FBI on June 21, 2005, from recovering cockfight gaffs from the family's farm during a search. Gaffs are sharp spurs attached to the feet of the birds.

Officer Barry Tong was charged in a separate indictment with possessing an Israel Military Industries, Model B, 9mm carbine on May 24, 2005. FBI agents confiscated the officer's weapons, including the machine gun, after receipts taken from the officer's home during a search two months earlier indicated he had a large gun collection, according to authorities.

Both officers were indicted April 6 in connection with a wide-reaching federal probe into organized gambling on O'ahu's North Shore.

Neither officer is alleged to have participated in the protection of the gambling operations or in the distribution of drugs.